Judge sentences Worcester man to 13-15 years for home invasion

Thursday

Mar 28, 2013 at 8:00 AMMar 28, 2013 at 9:14 PM

By Gary V. Murray TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

WORCESTER—A Worcester man described by a prosecutor as a "dangerous individual" and "career recidivist" was sentenced to 13 to15 years in state prison today after being convicted of charges stemming from a 2011 home invasion on Gibbs Street.

Christopher Todd, 36, formerly of 56 Vale St., was found guilty March 12 of home invasion, kidnapping and two counts each of armed robbery and armed assault in a dwelling after a jury trial in Worcester Superior Court. The charges arose from a Dec. 9, 2011, home invasion at 36 Gibbs St. in which two armed men were said to have forced their way into an apartment and stolen drugs and money from two victims at gunpoint.

Assistant District Attorney Michael D.McHugh, who prosecuted the case, recommended that Mr. Todd be sentenced to a prison term of 30 to 34 years with 10 years of probation to begin upon his release.

In a sentencing memorandum filed with the court, the prosecutor cited Mr. Todd's 16-page criminal record, which included convictions for drug and gun offenses, breaking and entering and assault and battery.

"He has shown time and time again that he is unable to curb his criminal appetite and after 23 years of criminal acts as a juvenile and as an adult, he has made no progress in his 'rehabilitation.' The criminal acts for which he was convicted on March 12, 2013 clearly speak of a career recidivist who merits severe punishment and lengthy incarceration to protect the public," Mr. McHugh wrote.

The jury that convicted Mr. Todd in connection with the Worcester home invasion found him not guilty of several charges stemming from a home invasion on the same date in Millbury.

Mr. Todd's lawyer, Michael G. Cashman, recommended that his client be sentenced to 8 to10 years with probation to follow.

Mr. Cashman asked the court to take into consideration that one of the victims, identified in Mr. McHugh's memorandum as Thomas Laverty, was "a convicted drug dealer" and that the victims suffered no physical injuries. The defense lawyer also said that his client had a difficult childhood and later became addicted to heroin and was likely to serve the full 10 years of an 8 to 10-year sentence without being paroled because of his prior record.

As conditions of probation, Mr. Todd was ordered to have no contact with the victims and to undergo substance abuse and mental health evaluations and any related treatment deemed appropriate by the court.

While two other individuals were alleged to have played a role in the home invasion, they have not been identified or charged.